Kirtland, SVSU to Sign “RN to BSN” Concurrent Enrollment Agreement

Officials from Kirtland Community College and Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) will sign a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) concurrent enrollment agreement on Wednesday, September 11th, formalizing students’ ability to fulfill BSN degree requirements while attending Kirtland’s Registered Nursing (RN) program on the main campus in Roscommon, Mich.

The “RN to BSN” concurrent enrollment agreement allows students to be simultaneously accepted in Kirtland’s RN and SVSU’s BSN programs. Credits earned at Kirtland fulfill approximately two-thirds of SVSU requirements, streamlining the amount of time it takes to complete the BSN degree. The programs are aligned and “RN to BSN” students have access to advisor and instructional support through both institutions.

Dr. Julie Lavender, Kirtland’s Dean of Instruction, has been working to formalize this concurrent enrollment agreement with officials at SVSU over the past year. “It’s no secret that the field of nursing is growing steadily. The demand for RNs in our communities continues to increase, and to meet this demand, Kirtland has restructured our RN program to accept more full-time students than ever before,” said Lavender. “The concurrent BSN program provides additional access to educational opportunity to nursing students throughout northern Michigan.”

Another key component of the “RN to BSN” program is the costs savings students will recognize. “This provides a major financial savings opportunity for students pursuing a nursing degree,” said Beth Hubbard, Director of Nursing at Kirtland. “All of the required RN courses are available at our tuition rates, which are much lower – approximately one-third the cost of typical four-year schools. Students complete approximately two-thirds of the required BSN courses through Kirtland and the costs savings is significant.”

Kirtland president, Dr. Thomas Quinn, and SVSU President Eric Gilbertson, will be joined by administrators from both institutions for the momentous agreement signing in the Student Center on Kirtland’s Roscommon campus on Wednesday, September 11th at 11:30 a.m.

Annually, more than 3,000 students attend a variety of occupational, skilled trades, two-year and transfer degree programs at Kirtland’s locations near Roscommon, Kirtland-Gaylord, Kirtland-West Branch and in Tawas. Kirtland also offers a wide range of online courses and degrees, all of which can be completed from home.

To learn more about this event or to confirm your attendance, contact 989-275-5000, extension 242, or contact Sarah Madonna, Director of Public Information, at sarah.madonna@kirtland.edu.

Kirtland Community College, Roscommon, Michigan, offers 48 degrees and certificates including six transfer associate degrees. Whether you're starting your college career, returning to college to change careers, or looking for classes to enrich your life, Kirtland Community College is the place for you.